VERBEKE, MARION, wife of William K. Verbeke, was born in
Harrisburg, November 9, 1829, and died March 8, 1896. Her body rests in the
family burying ground in the Harrisburg cemetery. She was the eldest daughter of
Charles and Eliza Anderson, and was married, January 3, 1849, to William K.
Verbeke, the present city controller of Harrisburg. In speaking of Mrs.
Verbeke's death the Harrisburg Telegraph of March 9, 1896, says:

"The friends and acquaintances of Mrs. Marion Verbeke will be
pained to learn of her death, which occurred last evening, at 7:30 o'clock. Her
sickness was of long duration, and of much suffering, which she bore patiently
and uncomplainingly. Being of a mild, gentle and happy disposition she made home
one of unalloyed bliss and tenderness. Her affection and solicitude for the
welfare, comfort and care of her family were unbounded. Her friends loved her
for her sunny ways, and their friendships were strong and enduring. She has
passed away, but the memory of this good, true woman remains.

"We recall her active life in the church which was dear to
her heart. Steadfast to her duties to the end, what a noble Christian character
she leaves behind as a solace to the loved ones of her household. With her
family cares and her numerous public duties, which were of daily occurrence, she
found time when the first soldiers of the war were brought into the improvised
hospitals, with a heart full of love for her country and pity for the poor,
unfortunate volunteer, sick and wounded, many of them mere boys away from home
and friends, to minister to their daily wants. She took with her the choicest
delicacies, wines, liquors, preserves -- everything that was nice, palatable and
strengthening to them, which they so much needed -- and with a mother's care and
tenderness nursed them and watched them until recovery, and when they left they
blessed her for what she had done. She never tired of this work, but from the
earliest period of the war until the close she was the constant attendant at the
hospitals, caring alike even for the wounded Confederates from the battlefield
of Gettysburg and though she done this she was bold enough to condemn them for
the part they took in their unholy war. Often she was opportuned to prepare a
history of the hospital service of Harrisburg, for which she was offered pay,
her services and knowledge of them being complete, so much so that no other one
person could have given the facts she knew and the different actors who were
associated with her. In honor of these great services, as a token of their real
appreciation of her noble work, one of our Pennsylvania regiments conferred the
honor upon her of electing her "Daughter of the Regiment." Well she deserved it.
No history of the participants of the bloody struggle from I861 to 1865 can be
written without giving Mrs. Marion Verbeke a prominent place as an active,
energetic, untiring agent in the military hospital service. All her labors were
free, given with heartfelt pleasure, never looking for remuneration, with no
other motive than to do good to a fellow-being. Such a lovely, generous woman,
one of our own people, has passed away, but the memory of her will be ever fresh
and green among us and shall never perish. She leaves, beside her husband, two
sons, William K., of Phoenixville, and Marion, of this city, and a daughter,
Miss Gertrude."